How Physical Activity Can Help You During Lockdown

Lockdown is a weird thing isn't it.  It's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster as we're either a bundle of energy, happy with our lot and full of the sunshine joys...OR...the exact opposite. 

It's a bit of a yo-yo, and it's so important to accept that whilst it's great to be feeling good and positive, it's also 'OK not to be OK'.  But know that there are ways that you can take control and feel better.

On a personal level, regular exercise is so important to me, it keeps me spurred on, energised and the blues away.  Most days we have our family daily walk or bike ride, but I'm also lucky that my Personal Trainer, Kim Lee of Fuller Fitness has continued her training sessions virtually - as whilst I joke that she kills me weekly, it does me the world of good and makes me feel fab at the end of it...and keeps my scales in the right place too, especially as being around food and drink whilst working at home all the time is so very tempting! ...and my son loves to bake too!

Kim is a massive advocate of all that exercise does for both your body and your mind, and I asked her to share her thoughts with us on why regular physical activity has never been so important: 

"Hi, I’m Kim from Fuller Fitness

I’m a massive fan of promoting just how awesome physical activity is and how it can really turn a bad day into a more clear-minded, more focused, calming day.   On a personal level, it really did improve my life for the better a few years ago, and now it's a big part of my daily life and I wouldn't change it. 

I truly believe a physical activity leads to us feeling happier, and It can truly make you feel awesome inside and out - even as little as 20 minutes per day can really improve your life mentally and physically, and there are so many options out there - from yoga, to a mini HIIT session, boxing, running, strength training, whatever you really enjoy and look forward to.

Fitness is so much more than exercise. It’s a catalyst for positive change and it affects every aspect of your life. It will keep you feeling your best - which is even more important than ever during these testing times when we don’t have our normal routines, usual gyms and fitness studios to attend. But never fear, body weight workouts are absolutely amazing and will give you the same endorphins! 

Even better if you feel a bit overwhelmed by the idea of a gym, practicing some exercises at home now will only help build your confidence and make you feel better for when this is all over.

Here is an example of a body weight workout that can easily be done at home and is a variation of upper, lower and full body movements:

Body weight squats
Push ups ( on the knees or full body)
Jump squats
Tricep dips (using a sofa or garden wall)
Mountain climbers
Burpees
Planks

Try a Tabata workout with these exercises.  It's high-intensity interval training that consists of eight sets of fast-paced exercises, each performed for 20 seconds interspersed with a brief rest for 10 seconds, and it can be challenging for beginners right through to advanced.  Try and complete as many rounds as you can!

Give me a follow on social media too (Instagram | Facebook ) as even though I can't go to the gym, I'm currently running my business virtually, and it's gone down so well! 

As, as well as my popular free Wednesday workout, I offer virtual personal training sessions and mixed HIIT classes, and also my very own women's only class every Friday morning where like-minded ladies come and join me for a 45 minute session and have absolutely nothing to fear, but a lot to gain in terms of support and wellbeing - our virtual world has never been so beneficial as you can do all of this from the comfort of your own home, and it's great to still have everyone together!

There really is no better time to try and become as active as you can.

I’m one for helping as many as I can during this difficult time. Yes, a lot of clients come to me looking for weight loss, but what I also promote is the non-scale victories that should be celebrated just as much.  I have helped so many absolutely lovely clients over the years and helped them build a happier version of themselves as they now:

• Sleep better
• Feel less stressed
• Feel happier
• Feel more confident 
• Feel more positive about life
• Have a better relationship with food
• Have improved mobility 
• Are able to achieve things in the gym they weren’t able to do at the start
  

FULLER FITNESS equals everything I live and breathe daily to help as many people as I can to feel their very best, especially right now!"

Thanks so much Kim!  Kim is an amazing soul and a true professional - and I for one am glad to have her in my life keeping me sane, fit and well during lockdown!

...I might just give her Tabata workout a go later on!

Go and give her a follow, you won't regret it: Instagram  |  Facebook

Keep smiling, from the Loved by Whitewed Team